Guide apparatus



A Jan. 13, 1959 GUIDE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1954 INVENTOR. .Hcmw l.HER/P Arr-01mm R. F. HERR 2,868,540

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J m 13, 1959 R. F. HERR 7 2,868,540

GUIDE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 co no \r w v 1-INVENTOR.

IL Emma L Hm? N Arromzv R. F. HERR GUIDE APPARATUS Jan. 13, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 16, 1954 R. F. HERR 2,868,540 GUIDE APPARATUSJan. 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 16, 1954 II I I INVENTOR.Hay/m2 E HmR ATTORNEY ited St Patented Jan. 13, 11159 GUIDE APPARATUSRichard F. Herr, Warren, Ohio,

Equipment Corporation, of Ohio Application August 16, 1954, Serial No.449,917 2 Claims. (Cl. 27l2.6)

assignor to The Herr Warren, Ohio, a corporation 7 employed withprecision slitters, adjustment of such apparatu relative to the slitterknives has been a troublesome and time-consuming operation. This hasbeen the case since the guide members between which the strip materialpasses must be spaced apart a precise distance depending upon the widthof the material. Moreover, the guide members must also be preciselypositioned relative to the slitter knives so that the strip will passthrough such knives in manner that exactly the right amount of materialwill be slit from each side.

Additionally, prior art apparatus prevented easy access to the slitterarbors when it became necessary to regrind or change the slitter knives.

My invention provides apparatus which possesses none of the foregoingdisadvantages of prior art apparatus while it possesses advantages laterto become clear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application there is shown, for purpose of illustration, anembodiment which my invention may assume; and, in these drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of my invention as adapted for usewith a conventional slitter which is fragmentarily shown, certainportions of the guide apparatus and the slitter being broken away toillustrate interior construction,

Figure 2 is a view, partially in section, generally corresponding to theline 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the invention, certain portionsbeing'removed in the interest of clarity,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view generallycorresponding, to the line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view generallycorresponding to the line 55 of Figure 2.

For purpose of illustration, and as best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, myinvention is herein shown and described in combination with aconventional strip slitter having a pair of spaced-apart housings 11which rotatably support a pair of spaced-apart arbors 12 upon which theusual slitter knives 13 are adapted to be positioned. However, it is tobe clearly understood that my invention may be advantageously used withapparatus other than slitters and with tenuous material other than stripmaterial.

The slitter knives 13 are adaptfid. to be assembled upon the respectivearbors 12 by means such as the usual collars, spacers and the like and,in the present embodiment, the knives are so arranged that two lengthsof strip material may be operated upon simultaneously. As is the usualconstruction, the lower arbor 12 is held for rotative movement onlywhile the upper arbor is adjustable (vertically, in the position ofparts shown) toward and away from the lower arbor in order that slitterknives of various diameters may be employed. Although not shown, thearbors 12, 12 may be rotated by means of any suitable power train.

Referring to Figure 1, the arbors 12, 12 are shown relatively closetogether since the slitter knives illustrated are of relatively smalldiameter. However, the upper arbor 12 will be positioned in the dot-dashline position when larger diameter knives (also shown by dot-dash lines)are employed.

In the present embodiment, one strip is adapted to be fed to the slitter10 from a suitable device and between a pair of guide members 14, 15positioned on the entrance side of the slitter and another strip isadapted to be fed between another pair of guide members 16, 17positioned adjacent members 14, 15. Each pair of guide members has wearplates which are engageable with opposed marginal edges of a respectivestrip of material for obvious reasons.

The means provided for supporting the guide members 14, 15, 16 and 17presently comprises a plate 18 mounted in a manner later to be describedand having a pair of spaced-apart upstanding supports 19 and 20 securedthereto by any suitable means. ,A plurality of spaced-apart slide bars,herein shown to be three in number, are secured in parallel relationbetween the supports 19 and 20 by means of capscrews 21 which passthrough respective apertures in the plates and which are threaded intothe ends of the slide bars (see especially Figure 4). The slide bars arepresently arranged in a triangular formation (see Figures 1 and 3) toprovide an upperslide bar 22 and two lower slide bars 23, 24.

Each guide member 14, 15, 16 and 17 is apertured to pass the upper slidebar 22, suitable bushings being fixed in the apertures to reducefriction (see Figure 4). As shown in Figures 1 and 3, guide members 14,15 each have a leg portion which is apertured to pass slide bar 24,whereas guide members 16, 17 have leg portions which, are apertured topass slide bar 23. Bushings are also preferably fixed in the aperturesof the guide members to receive respective slide bars 23, 24 with aminimum of friction.

From the construction thus far described, it will be understood thateach guide member 14, 15 is slideable along slide bars 22 and 24,whereas guide members 16, 17 are slideable along slide bars 22 and 23.

Means are provided for shifting the guide members along the slide barsand for holding such members in a desired predetermined position. At thepresent time, two adjusting screws are provided for the guide members14, 15 and two other adjusting screws are provided for the guide members16, 1 7.

As best shown in Figure 4, the adjusting screws for guide members 14, 15comprise an upper screw rod 25 and a lower screw rod 26, the screw rodsbeing positioned intermediate the slide bars 22, 24 and in parallelrelation therewith. Both screw rods 25, 26 extend through support 19 andhave respective end portions 27, 2% formed to provide wrench flats orthe like. Screw rod 25 is journaled in support 19 and is held againstaxial movement relative thereto by means of suitable collars and snaprings. The right-hand portion of screw rod 25 is threaded and suchportion extends through a complementary threaded aperture 29 formed inthe guide member 14.

Screw rod 26 passes through and is journaled in guide member 14 and isheld against axial movement relative thereto by means of suitablecollars and snap rings. As previously mentioned, screw rod 26 alsopasses through support 19; however, in this case, support 19 is merelyapertured to provide clearance for screw rod 26. The right-hand portionof screw rod 26 is threaded and such portion extends through acomplementary threaded aperture 30 formed in guide member 15.

Operation of screw rods 25, 26 in shifting guide members 14, along theslide bars is asfollows: When,it. is desired to effect movement of the.guidemembers 1e, 15 toward or away from each othertoaccommodatedifferent widths of strip, screw rod 26 -.will.be,,rotated. by, means ofthe wrench flats 23. Since member 14.,is, held in position by screw rodand since screw rod 2 6.is.

held against axial movement relative. to member, 1.4, rotation of screwrod 26 will effect movement of member. 15 toward or away frornrmember14.

When it is desirable to shift the strip inan edgewise direction in orderto properly align it with the slitter knives, screw rod 25 will berotated by means of the wrench flats 27. Since screw rod 25 is heldagainst axial movement relative to support 19 and since screw rod Zdtiesmembers 14- and 15 together, rotation of screw rod 25 will effectmovement of both members 14,

15 along the slide bars tothereupon shift the strip in an Screw rod 31passes through a clearance aperture. formed in guide member 16. Theright-hand end of the screw rod 31 is threaded and such portion extendsthrough a complementary threaded aperture formed in the guide member 17.

Screw rod 32 has its right-hand end journaled in member 17 andheldagainst axial movement relative thereto by means similar to thoseheretofore disclosed, and screw rod 32 is threaded as shown and passesthrough a complementary threaded aperture formed in the member 16.

Rotation of adjusting screw rods 31, 32 will effect shifting of guidemembers 16, 17 in much the same, manner as was disclosed with respect toguide members 14, 1S. Rotation of screw rod 32 will effect movement ofmember 16 along slide bars 22, 23 toward and away from member 17 inorder to accommodate various widths of strip, whereas rotation of screwrod 31 will effect movement of both members 16, 17 in unison to there-,upon shift the strip in an edgewise direction.

When slitting strip material, particularly when such strip material isrelatively thin, it is necessary to support the strip as it passesthrough the slitter to prevent buckling or twisting of the strip.Accordingly, it is the usual procedure to support the opposite sides ofthe striprby means of wooden blocks or strips positioned adjacent theslitter knives.

In the present embodiment, (see Figures 1 and 2) each support 19, 20 hasan apertured lug 33 welded or otherwise secured thereto. A plate 34 isadapted to extend between the lugs 33 and is secured thereto by means ofbolts 35. Another plate 34a is also adapted to be carried by the bolts35, the plates 34, 34a being spaced apart and loosely holdingtherebetween respective ends of a pair of wooden strips are which extendbetween the slitter knives (see Figures 1 and 4). The other ends of thewooden strips as may be supported, if desired, by any suitable means. Byway of example, such ends may be loosely held between bars 37 whichextend between the slitter housings 11 and which are adjustably securedterial will be fed to the slitter betweenrespective pairs of guidemembers 14, 15 and 16, 17: The respective members of each pair of guidemembers will be adjusted to accommodate strip width by manipulation ofproper adjusting screws and the respective pairs of guide members thenwill be adjusted by manipulation of proper adjusting screws to so feedthe respective strips to the knives that the desired amount of materialwill be slit from each side of a respective strip; It will be understoodthat since the guide members 14, 15, 16' and 17 are provided withseparate adjustments for strip width and for positioning the stripandsince all such adjustments may be madeat support'19, theseadjustments may be made quickly and easily.

Means are provided'for adjusting the guidemembers vertically (in theposition of parts shown in Figures 1 and 2) in order to accommodate thedifferent positions of the pass line when different diameters of slitterknives are employed.

As mostclearly shown in Figure 2, a shaft 38 extends downwardlyfrom theplate 18 :and is secured thereto by any suitable, means. In the presentembodiment, shaft 38 is welded to acollar 39 whichlis in turn secured tothe platep18 by means of capscrews 46. Shaft 38 has a pair ofspaced-apart journal portions 41, 42 which are respectively rotatable inspaced-apart journal boxes 43,

44 suitably secured to the base 45' of the slitter 10. The portion ofthe shaft 38 intermediate the journal portions 41, 42 is threaded at 46and an internally threaded sleeve 47 is threaded thereon. Thrust washers48 or the like are positioned at each end of the. sleeve and against arespective journal box 43, 44 and an intermediate poi" tion of thesleeve has a radially enlarged portion 49 which forms a hand-wheel for apurpose to be disclosed.

When it is desired to shift the plate 18 and the guide members carriedthereby in a. vertical direction, it is only necessary to rotate thesleeve 47 by means of the hand-wheel 49. This will raise or'lower theshaft 38, depending upon thedirection of rotation, and thus effectraising or lowering; of the parts carried by the plate 18;

Shaft.38 also serves another function in that plate 18 and the partscarried thereby are rotatable about the axis of the shaft to provide foraccess to the slitter arbors. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, plate 18 andthe parts carriedthereby are normally held in position by means of aslide bolt assembly '50 which engages with a bracket 51 secured to theundersurface of plate 18.

When it is desired to rotate plate 18 about the axis of shaft 38 (asindicated in Figure 3) and assuming the wooden strips 36 have beenremoved, it is only necessary to slide bolt 52 of the assembly 50 to theleft (see Figure 5) until it disengages from bracket 51 and to thengrasp the plate and rotate it counterclockwise. With the plate 18rotated in the neighborhood of ninety degrees, it ,will be asimplematter to gainaccess to the slitter knives.

In view of the foregoing it willbe apparent to those.

skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principalobjectof my invention audit will also be apparent to those skilled in the artthat the embodiment herein described may be variously changed andmodified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and thatthe invention iscapable of uses and has advantages not hereinspecifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the hereindisclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is notlimited thereto.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for guiding longitudinal movement of tenuous material,comprising support means, slide means carried by said support means andextending transversely of the direction of movement of said material, .apair of spaced-apart guide members carried by said slide means andshiftable therealong toward and away from each other, said membersslidably engaging respective transversely opposed portions of saidmaterial and said members normallybeing maintained in predeterminedposition along said slide means to guide said material along apredetermined path of travel between said members, a first adjustingscrew rotatably carried by one of said members and held against axialmovement relative thereto, and a second adjusting screw rotatablycarried by said support means and held against axial movement relativethereto, said first adjusting screw having threaded engagement with oneof said members whereby rotation thereof effects relative movement ofsaid members along said slide means toward and away from each other toaccommodate material of variou transverse sizes, said second adjustingscrew also having threaded engagement with one of said members wherebyrotation thereof effects movement of said members in unison in adirection laterally of the direction of movement of said material toeffect lateral positioning of the latter.

2. Apparatus for guiding longitudinal movement of tenuous material,comprising support means, slide means including a pair of spaced-apartslide bars in coextensive relation and a third slide bar inspaced-apart, coextensive relation with said pair of bars and positionedintermediate said pair, but to one side thereof, two pair ofspaced-apart guide members carried by said slide means and shiftabletherealong, respective members of each pair of guide members slidablyengaging respective transversely opposed portions of such tenuousmaterial, one of said pair of members being slideable along theintermediately positioned slide bar and one of the other slide bars andthe other pair of members being slideable along said intermediatelypositioned slide bar and the other of said slide bars, and adjustingscrews for positioning said guide members along said slide means, eachpair of guide members having a pair of adjusting screws 6 positionedintermediate the slide bars along which such pair of guide members isslideable, each pair of adjusting screws comprising a first adjustingscrew rotatably carried by one of the members of a respective pair ofguide members and said first screw being held against axial movementrelative to such member, each pair of adjusting screws also comprising asecond adjusting screw rotatably carried by said support means and heldagainst axial movement relative thereto, respective said first adjustingscrews having threaded engagement with one member of a respective pairof guide members whereby rotation of said first adjusting screws eflectsrelative movement of the members of a respective pair of members alongsaid slide means toward and away from each other to accommodate materialof various transverse sizes,

respective said second adjusting screws also having threaded engagementwith one member of a respective pair of guide members whereby rotationof said second adjusting screws elfects movement of the members of arespective pair of members in unison in a direction laterally of thedirection of movement of said material to effect lateral positioning ofthe latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS289,179 Tregurtha Nov. 27, 1883 1,515,382 Cheesman Nov. 11, 19241,711,074 Wikle Apr. 30, 1929 1,874,904 Crafts Aug. 30, 1932 2,071,682Buccicone Feb. 23, 1937 2,233,895 Mestre Mar. 4, 1941 2,499,562 BehrensMar. 7, 1950 2,548,590 Cook Apr. 10, 1951

